METHOD

Student Government in Primary, Middle, and Secondary Schools

Student government — sometimes called "student council" or "youth council" — is a form of experiential civic education for students in primary, middle, and secondary schools.

Problems and Purpose

In democratic societies, young people need training in the nature of public problems and how to address those problems. The aim of student government is to provide young people with leadership skills, training in the practice of governance, and experience in serving and engaging with their school communities.[1]

Origins and Development

Participant Recruitment and Selection

In many schools, members of student government are elected by the students.

How it Works: Process, Interaction, and Decision-Making

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

Analysis and Lessons Learned

See Also

University Student Government

Civic Education

Democratic Education

References

[1] National Student Council (U.S.). (2018). About National Student Council (NatStuCo). Retrieved from https://www.natstuco.org/about/

Niemi, R. G., & Junn, J. (1998). Civic education : what makes students learn. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Rosefsky Saavedra, A. (2012). Dry to dynamic civic education curricula. In D. E. Campbell, M. Levinson, & F. M. Hess (Eds.), Making civics count : citizenship education for a new generation (pp. 135-159). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

Youniss, J. (2012). How to enrich civic education and sustain democracy. In D. E. Campbell, M. Levinson, & F. M. Hess (Eds.), Making civics count : citizenship education for a new generation (pp. 115-133). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

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